Henry Watkinson
Associate
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Overview
Henry is a London-based Associate in the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team with over 10 years’ experience. Henry has a varied practice and sits within the firm’s privacy, commercial litigation and public law teams. Henry primarily acts in complex civil and criminal matters, with a particular focus on:
- Reputational/Privacy matters and advising the victims of harassment and stalking;
- Construction and Built Environment Disputes;
- Public Law claims, including matters of the Equality Act and applications for judicial review
Henry advises both corporate and individual clients and is known for his strategic, responsive and commercial approach, particularly in high-stakes and sensitive matters.
Expertise
Henry specialises in:
- Competition law investigations
- Civil litigation
- Multi-jurisdictional disputes and appellate litigation
- Advising individuals on police investigations and criminal prosecutions
- Harassment and Stalking
- Construction Law and Adjudication
- Public Law and Judicial Review
- Claims under the Equality Act
Reported Cases
- Advised various individuals in respect of campaigns of harassment and stalking, securing protective injunctions and advising in respect of criminal prosecution
- Acting for individuals and corporates in supply chain and sub-contractor disputes
- Advised a multi-billion-pound defence contractor in relation to a supply chain bribery investigation
- Acted for a company director facing multiple counts of fraud by misrepresentation
- Advised a financial services provider on alleged breaches under the Competition Act 1998
- Watchstone Group Plc v Quob Park Estate Ltd & Ors [2017] EWHC 2621 (Ch)
- Blue Tropic Ltd & Anor v Chkhartishvili [2016] EWCA Civ 1259
- Goremsandu v Thomas & Ors [2019] EWHC 2397 (Ch)
- Marz Ltd v Bank of Scotland plc (2017)
Qualifications & Accreditations
Henry qualified as a solicitor in 2020 and joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2022. He is recognised in Legal 500 UK and Spear’s, reflecting his growing reputation in white-collar crime and investigations. He is also actively involved in mentoring through Coram’s Fields, supporting aspiring solicitors.
Awards & Accolades
- The Legal 500 UK 2026 ranks Henry Watkinson as a ‘Recommended Key Lawyer’ for ‘Crime: General’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2026 ranks Henry Watkinson as a ‘Recommended Key Lawyer’ for ‘Fraud: White-Collar Crime (advice to individuals)’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2026 ranks Henry Watkinson as a ‘Recommended Key Lawyer’ for ‘Education’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2025 recommends Henry Watkinson for his expertise in crime and education matters.
- Spear’s Criminal Law and White Collar Crime Index 2025 ranks Henry Watkinson as a ‘Rising Star’.
